Abbott pushes Nauru solution

Opposition Leader
Tony Abbott
wound up his visit to the tiny Pacific island of Nauru by insisting that reopening a Howard-era detention centre there was more humane and cost- effective than Prime Minister
Julia Gillard
’s Malaysia refugee swap.

Emerging from a meeting with the Nauruan cabinet, Mr Abbott insisted that not only could the former centre be up and running within a few weeks with a “bit of gardening’’, a coat of paint and some new windows, but Nauru had also offered to sign up to the UN refugee convention.

Ms Gillard rejected Nauru as a site because its government was not a signatory to the convention.

That proviso went out the window when the Gillard government announced it was negotiating with another non-signatory, Malaysia, which has come in for heavy criticism from human rights groups over its mistreatment of asylum seekers.

Mr Abbott said some of the buildings were being used for a school and alternative arrangements would have to be made.

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“Let’s forget about Malaysia,’’Mr Abbott told the ABC yesterday. “Nauru is by no means the financial basket case it was a decade ago."

“They are not desperate for it but nevertheless they would be happyto host it,’’ said Mr Abbott, whovisited Nauru with opposition immigration spokesman
Scott Morrison
.

Nauru President Marcus Stephen said yesterday that opening the centre would cost Australia little.

“We do owe a debt of gratitude to Australia,’’ Mr Stephen said.

“That is why we have said if Australia asks for assistance we are happy to help.’’

But Immigration Minister
Chris Bowen
has described the trip as a stunt.

He accused Mr Abbott of avoiding saying how much his Nauruan solution would cost and not admitting most of the people were held there for far too long during the Howard era.

Most were found to be legitimate refugees and had their claims accepted by Australia.

The Gillard government is negotiating with Malaysia to send 800 asylum seekers arriving by boat to the back of that country’s refugee processing queue as a deterrent to those seeking to make the dangerous journey to Australia.

In return, Australia has offered to take a further 4000 processed refugees from Malaysia, increasing its humanitarian intake.

The Malaysia swap is so far budgeted to cost Australia $292 million over four years.

But Mr Abbott also defended his Nauru visit against Labor’s accusations it was a waste of taxpayers’ money, insisting it was funded by the Liberal Party.

“All those Labor members who said it was a taxpayer-funded stunt, they’ve got egg on their faces,’’ he said.